Gelatoid thermoplastic compound.



BYRON B. GOLDSMITH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GELATOID THERMOPLASTIC COMPOUND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 16, 1909.

Application filed October 7, 1907. Serial No. 898,190.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BYRON B. GOLDSMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in GelatoidThermoplastic Compounds, of which the following 1s a specification.

This inventionhas relation to an improved thermo lastic compound formedfrom the gelatoids, (for instance lue collogen, chondrigen, isinglassetc.) with their derivatives and compounds.

In my U.. S. Patent Number 840,931, dated January 8th, 1907, I havedescribed a process whereby a thermoplastic compound may be made fromcasein or its derivatives, as a convenient and cheap substitute forcelluloid, rubber and the like; and I made it clear in said patent thatthe term thermoplastic was meant to describe those masses which, whilereasonably hard at ordinary temperatures, are rendered soft by heat, soas to permit the uniting of separate masses, and the molding of any massto any desired shape. My present invention is based upon the discoverythat the results obtained by the method described in said patent asapplied to casein can also be reached by a similar treatment of thegelatoids and their derivatives and compounds. The rincipalgelatoidsavailable for commercial purposes are collogen or ossein from bones,skin etc., chondrigen derived from permanent cartilag'es, and isinglass,from fish bladders. The term gelatoid is to be understood herein ascovering, not only the albuminoids commonly classified under that head,but also gelatin which is derived from them by treatment with hot Water.This term also covers the derivatives and compounds of the gelatoids.

Shortly stated, my invention involves the modification of the propertiesof these proteid bodies by uniting them with converting agents underconditlons of heat and pressure, for the production of a thermoplasticcomposition of matter, useful in the manufacture of molded articles ofmany kinds, and supplying a cheap and superior substitute for celluloid,rubber etc,

The term converting agent as used in my present specification and claimscovers any substance which, when combined or admixed with a gelatoid,its derivative or combut whose softenin actlon is suspended ormaterially diminis ed upon lowering the temperature of the mass. Amongthe convertin agents which I have found useful are a phanaphthol,beta-naphthol, benzoic acid, carbolic acid, hydrochinon, cresol,pyrocatechin, resorcin, salicylic acid, urea, benzoic acid, phthalicacid, phloroglucin, pyrogallol, paratoluidin, na hthylamin, benzidin,oxy-naphthoic acid anilin, toluidin and xylidin. It is to be understoodhowever that I do not limit myself to these, but that my inventioncovers the use of equivalents of these Substances and has the scopeheretofore explained. The mode of action of these converting agents isnot altogether clear. In some cases it is probably due to partialsolution of the gelatoid when heated, but I do not confine myself to anytheory of action; nor is it essential to my invention whether or notthere is a chemical combination between the gelatoid and the convertingagent.

One characteristic of a converting agent is its capacity to remain inthe mass and not be volatilized to a material extent when moderate heatis applied. I have discovered that the best results are obtained by theuse of solid reagents, such as alpha or beta naphthol and I have claimedthis variant of my process and product specifically herein. Whereflexibility is desired in the product, however, I have discovered that aliquid converting agent or liquids not antagonistic to the mixture maybe combined with a solid agent to great advantage.

The properties of the thermoplastic compound in the cold state will varywith the particular converting agent employed and with the proportionsused. Thus a great variety of characteristics are obtainable by suitablevariations in proportions and qualities.

In the manufacture of my present composition the gelatoid or itsderivatives undergoes the same treatment as is described in my aforesaidpatent in connection with casein; that is to say that they may be unitedwith the converting agent on or between suitably heated rolls. Any othermethod may ,be used whereby these substances are brought into intimatecontact. Instead of using the converting agents in their natural state,they may be first dissolved in alcohol, water, or

lOt

other suitable liquid which is afterward driven oif'by heat.

()ne of the practicable proportions whlch have used is the following:Take a quantity of isinglass or gelatin, which would weigh four poundsif dried and sprinkle the same with one pound of beta-naphthol dissolvedin alcohol. This is then well mixed, preferably on suitably heatedrolls, and, when the mixture is com leted, the mass is removed and issoft whi e hot but hardens on cooling. If instead of elatin, a compoundthereof with tannin lie employed as above described, a satisfactoryresult is obtained, and it is to be understood that such a com ound, "aswell as many others, are equiva ents of latin in this connection.

I have foun that, in order to produce the best results, the convertingagent or agents employed should be non-hygroscopic, by which I mean thatthey should not have the property of extracting moisture from theatmosphere. For this reason I have made specificclaims for the use ofnon-hygroscopic converting agents. All of the agents which I have namedabove belong to thls class.

Certain converting agents are better adapted to be used with somegelatoid derivatives and compounds than with others, and in many casesthe derivatives of gelatoids or their compounds, or combinations of twoor more derivatives or compounds may give results superior to thoseobtained from use of a single gelatoid.

Scraps of substances of various nature may be mixed in with-the massesformed by my process, in considerable quantities.

Among these are celluloid scraps, finely divided albuminoids, bits ofhorn, rubber, resins, gums and coloring matter. Compounding substancesor fillers can also be incorporated without departing from thisinvention WVhat I claim is 1. The process of making a thermoplasticcomposition of matter which consists in intimately mixing a gelatoidWith a converting agent, substantially as described.

2. The process of making a thermoplastic composition of matter whichconsists in intimately mixing a gelatoid and a converting agent and thenheating and pressing the combined ingredients, substantially asdescribed.

3. The process of making a thermoplastic composition of matter whichconsists in intimately mixing betanaphthol with a gelatoid andsubjecting the combined ingredients to simultaneous heat and pressuresub stantially as described.

4. The process of making a thermoplastic composition of matter whichconsists in in -t1mately mixing a. gelatoid with beta-naphthol,substantially as described.

5. The process of making a con.positit of matter which consists inumting a gel.

mm with an agent or agents which rende.

the same thermoplastic, substantially as described. 7

7 6. The proces of making a composition of matterwhich consists inintimately mixing a gelatoid with an agent which renders the samethermoplastic, substantially as described.

7. The process of makin a thermoplastic com sition of matter w iichconsists in uniting a gelatoid with a normally solid converting agentand subjecting the mass to heat and pressure, substantially asdescribed. v

8. The process of makin a thermoplastic composition of matter w ichconsists in unitmg gelatin with a normally solid converting agent andsubjectin the mass to heat and pressure, substantial y as described.

9. The process of maki a thermoplastic composition of matter intimatelymixing gelatin with a nonhygroscopic converting agent, substantially asdescribed.

10. The process of making athermoplastie composition of matter whichconsists in umtmg gelatin with a normally solid nonhygroscopicconverting agent with heat and pressure, substantially as described.

11. The process of making athermoplastic composition of matter whichconsists in uniting gelatin with a normally solid nonhygroscopieconverting agent and then subjecting the mass to heat and pressure,substantially as described.

12. The process of making a relatively pliable thermoplastic compositionof matter which consists in uniting a gelatoid with a normally solidconverting agent and a normally liquid converting agent, and subjectingthe mass to heat and pressure, substantially as described.

13. The process of making a relatively pliable thermoplastic compositionof matterv which consists in uniting a gelatoid with a normally solidconverting agent and a liquid not antagonistic to the mixture,substantially as described. I

14. A composition of matter consisting of a thermoplastic gelatoid,substantially as described.

15. A composition of matter consisting of a gelatoid united withbeta-naphthol or its equivalent, substantially as described.

16. A composition of matter consisting of gelatin and a convertingagent, substantially as described.

17. A composition of matter consisting of a gelatoid and a convertingagent, substantially as described.

18. A composition of matter consisting of a gelatoid and beta-naphtholor its equivalent, substantially as described.

ill)

a gelatoid, a. normally solid converting agent 19. A composition ofmatter consisting of a gelatoid or its equivalent and a nona gelatoidand a normally solid converting hygroscopic converting agent,substantially 10 agent, substantially as described. as described.

20. A composition of matter consisting of BYRON B GOLDSMITH. and anormally liquid converting agent, sub- Witnesses: stantially asdescribed. H. S. MACKAYE, 21. A composition of matter consisting of M.S. BUTLER.

